On a night when a poor start threatened to turn disastrous, Nigel Adkins and his Hull City side finally found a foothold in this new Championship season.

More will be needed to chase away the storm clouds that linger over the KCOM Stadium but seeing off Rotherham United with a 3-2 win was a purposeful step away from a burgeoning crisis.

Mark this opening victory of 2018-19 down as gutsy in the extreme. With the failings of a weekend loss to Blackburn Rovers still vivid, a trip to another buoyant newly-promoted club brought a timely test of character for City.

They could have been overpowered by a hungry and physical host, first when falling behind to Richard Wood’s slack opener and then conceding late to set up a stomach-churning close, but instead the Tigers dug deep to grind out a first win of the season and three valuable points.

A brace from the excellent Jackson Irvine came either side of Fraizer Campbell’s confident finish in first-half stoppage time, but the spirit on show was just as heartening as any quality against last season’s League One play-off winners.

For all the Tigers wobbled under a late Rotherham bombardment after Jamie Proctor had pounced with 15 minutes to play, never quite coming to terms with the Millers’ unrelenting high balls, Adkins could eventually be proud of a performance that righted plenty of wrongs. City were not perfect but they had plenty of heart.

Four points from four games means City’s start no longer feels quite so ominous. They will have their work cut out to maintain a point-per-game ratio when facing Stoke and Derby before the international break, but the alarm bells have had their volume turned down for now.

Todd Kane shoots from distance during the Championship match at the New York Stadium, Rotherham

The last time these two clubs met City were gearing up for a tilt at the Championship play-offs. That 5-1 victory on the final day of the 2015-16 season was the perfect warm-up for facing Derby County over two-legs but that team bore no resemblance to the side in far greater need of a victory.

Adkins made two changes from the weekend, recalling Dan Batty and Reece Burke at the expense of Angus MacDonald and the injured Stephen Kingsley, but the onus was on producing a response.

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The early stages were promising enough as City’s quality in possession initially came to the fore. Campbell’s inviting low cross went unconverted before Markus Henriksen almost produced a stunning opener when his long-range effort forced Marek Rodak to tip over his bar. The resulting corner also brought a chance as Batty’s excellent volley was blocked by the Millers’ last-ditch defending.

The omens were promising but then came another defensive lapse to land City in trouble. If Burke’s slip to concede a corner was regrettable, the non-existent marking that allowed Wood to nod in Ryan Manning’s centre was inexcusable.

Adkins had warned his players about Rotherham’s greatest strengths but none had listened. Another header won in the City box was sent wide by Semi Ajayi soon after, while Manning was also close to the Millers’ second with a curling effort just over.

Jackson Irvine celebrates scoring his second goal during the Championship match at Rotherham United

City’s shortcomings were in a reshuffled defence but ample hope was to be found at the opposite end of the pitch. Slick interplay in the home team’s half often stretched Rotherham and produced a deserved equaliser in the 28th minute.

A sweeping move down the right flank opened up City’s hosts and Evandro’s searching cross was clinically finished by Irvine at the back post. A third goal in City colours had Adkins punching the air in delight.

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The Tigers continued to show vulnerabilities at the back, struggling to defend another Manning corner before Smith was blocked, but in first-half stoppage-time the visitors found a lead their attacking play had warranted.

A cross from the right brought an unconvincing punch from Rodak and Eric Lichaj’s pressing from deep was rewarded when a low cross was turned in by Campbell from eight yards out.

Those two goals inside 17 minutes gave the Tigers a half-time lead they might not have expected after falling behind but within another a couple of minutes of the re-start the visitors had victory in their grasp.

More unconvincing defending from Rotherham helped City to carve open their hosts, with Bowen unselfishly squaring for Irvine to double his tally for the Tigers. “Long hair never looked so good,” sang the travelling supporters and with good reason.

Hull City's Evandro runs at the Rotherham United defence

The Tigers had been guilty of surrendering three leads already this season but a two-goal advantage felt far more secure against a host with Rotherham’s limitations.

Paul Warne threw on more attacking bodies for the final half-hour but set-pieces remained their best hope of a comeback. City’s defending was far too loose at times and ought to have been punished when Wood sent another free header wide of the target from a position alarmingly similar to the opener.

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Jarrod Bowen, substitute Will Keane and Irvine all come close to a decisive City fourth but instead it was Rotherham who set up a tense finale with 15 minutes remaining.

Proctor had only been on the pitch a matter of minutes as Rotherham’s final sub but his header, converting Zak Vyner’s low cross, was too good for Marshall.

A predictably anxious finish followed as Rotherham threw everything at their nervy guests but the one big chance could not be taken.

Ajayi’s header should have at least tested Marshall but floated harmlessly wide deep in stoppage time. The three points were not always convincing but they felt heaven sent as players celebrated with a raucous away end at full-time.